Hi-line voltage breaker and fuse

ABSTRACT

A safety switch and fuse assembly which is interposed in a hivoltage transmission line or conduit at a location which will terminate flow of current therethrough should the line break between adjacent assemblies. The apparatus includes an internal contact apparatus in the form of a fuse for protection against short circuiting of a conductor.

United States Patent Allison Dec. 2, 1975 1 1 HI-LINE VOLTAGE BREAKER AND FUSE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 1 Inventorl Danny Allison, 1205 Moflm 123.807 3/1919 United Kingdom 337/190 Midland, Tex. 79701 [22] Filed: Dec. 12, 1974 Primary Examiner-Harold Broorne 1 pp No: 531,930 Attorney, Agent, or F1rmMarcus L. Bates 52] us. (:1. 337/190; 200/161; 337/4; [57] ABSTRACT 337/299 A safety switch and fuse assembly which is interposed [51] Int. Cl. H01H 85/36 in a hi-voltage transmission line or conduit at a loca- [58] Field of Search 337/4, 11, 156, 157, 299, tion which will terminate flow of current therethrough 337/407, 190, 191, 194, 195; 200/161, 61.89 should the line break between adjacent assemblies.

The apparatus includes an internal contact apparatus [56] References cum in the form of a fuse for protection against short UNITED STATE PAT T circuiting of a conductor.

1,628,413 5/1927 Lotz 337/11 2,821,604 1/1958 Wallace 337/190 11 Clam, 8 Drawmg Flgures 58 HF/ I I I I I. a I. I. I "k US. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,924,215

FIG!

III-LINE VOLTAGE BREAKER AND FUSE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION tempt with respect to most forms of power, such as electrical hilines, explosive automotive fuels, and explosive gaseous hydrocarbons. Moreover, millions of tons of debris, called hi-rise buildings, constitute another threat because an infinitesimal portion thereof could fall several hundred feet through the air and strike one of the multitute of persons wandering around therebelow as he endures the strenuous life society has imposed upon him.

The most dangerous and awesome of these modern, unseen, and ignored hazards is a common hi-voltage transmission line. It is difficult to walk any appreciable distance without passing into close proximity to hundreds of electrical conductors, any one of which would spell instantaneous death should the conductor part and contact a person. During the winter hi-lines become weighted with ice and often break, and at other times, hi-velocity winds cause a hi-line to part. The parted wire is exceedingly dangerous and constitutes an attractive nuisance to children. The broken wire often continues to make available an electrical potential of thousands of volts ready to instantaneously end the life of any unsuspecting and unobservant passerby who might inadvertently come into contact therewith.

It would therefore be reasonable and desirable to make available a means by which an innocent passersby or bystander could be saved from the hazard of electrocution which continuously awaits anyone who is forced to pass in close proximity of a transmission line. It is desirable that such an expedient be low in cost, foolproof in operation, and simple in design so that utility companies could economically entertain the idea of incorporation of such an apparatus into existing hi-lines which are placed in proximity to high density populated areas.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART Raab 3,798,402 Rainer 3,336,450 Hanson, Jr. 2,520,681

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A hi-line voltage breaker and fuse assembly which can be connected into a hi-voltage conduit so that should a hi-voltage wire break and contact the ground, current flow therethrough would be interrupted. The assembly is comprised of concentrically arranged housings spaced from one another with the inner housing having opposed link members depending therefrom. One link member is electrically connected to a fuse located within the inner housing, while the second link member is connected to a contact means movable into engagement with and away from the fuse means. The link members are spring loaded and normally biased apart. Accordingly, when the link members are series connected to a wire conductor, they are placed in tension and pulled in opposite directions, thereby enabling 2 current to flow from one link member, through the fuse, the contact, and to the remaining link member.

Therefore, should one of the wire conductors of a hiline part, current flow from one link member to the other will be interrupted because the electrical contact will be forced to move away from the fuse. Should the weight of the broken wire which remains attached to one of the link members be of a sufficient magnitude to overcome the biasing action of the link members, it will also strike the ground, whereupon excessive current flow therethrough causes the fuse means to burn away or melt, thereby interrupting the current flow through the assembly.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is the provision of a hi-line voltage breaker in combination with a fuse device for being series connected in a wire conductor so that should separation of the conductor occur, there will be an interruption of current flow therethrough.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hi-line voltage breaker and fuse assembly series connected in a hi-voltage conduit for preventing current flow therethrough whenever the tension on the hi-line reaches a preselected value.

A further object of this invention is to disclose and provide a means by which individual wire conductors of a hi-line are rendered fail-safe.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a hi-line voltage breaker and fuse assembly for series connection into a hi-line so that should a conductor part, and fall, it will be rendered nonconductive, thereby avoiding damage to the surrounding area.

Another and still further object is to provide an apparatus for being series connected into a hi-voltage wire which renders a broken end of the wire non-conductive upon failure of the suspension system associated with the wire.

These and various other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description and claims and be referring to the accompanying drawings.

The above objects are attained in accordance with the present invention by the provision of a combination of elements which are fabricated in a manner substantially as described in the above abstract and summary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational, diagrammatical view of a cross-country transmission line having apparatus made in accordance with the invention operatively disclosed in conjunction therewith;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, part longitudinal cross-sectional, side elevational view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal, part cross-sectional view of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 2, with some parts thereof being broken away therefrom;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, broken, partly cross-sectional view of a modification of part of the apparatus disclosed in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively, are cross-sectional views taken along lines 66 and 7-7 respectively, of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, part cross-sectional plan view of a modification of part of the apparatus disclosed in 3 FIGS. 3 and 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Throughout the various figures of the drawings, wherever it is logical or practical to do so, like or similar numerals are applied to like or similar elements. I

In FIG. 1 there is disclosed a hi-line, also called a hivoltage transmission line, which extends above the surface of the earth by means of the usual vertical poles 12 and 14, with the wires 16 and 16 being suspended from the crossarms of the poles in accordance with the present invention. One hi-voltage conduit 8 and 18 is seen to have broken, and one marginal end portion 18' thereof is laying on the ground. At least one end of each wire is normally connected to the crossarm by means of apparatus 20 and 20' made in accordance with the present invention.

In FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, there is disclosed one form of the before mentioned hi-line voltage breaker and fuse assembly 20. This first embodiment of the invention is provided with a first link member 22 having a free end portion 24 for attachment to a hi-voltage conductor, as suggested in FIG. 1, for example. A second link member 26 similarly is provided with a free end 28 made into a suitable configuration so that it can readily be attached to another end of a hi-voltage conduit, or to an insulator associated with the crossarm of a transmission line, thereby seriesconnecting the apparatus into the line.

An outer housing 30, preferably cylindrical in configuration, is provided with diametrically opposed closure means 32 and 34, each of which reciprocatingly receives a marginal intermediate length of one of the link members in a slidable manner therethrough. The inside diameter of the outer housing is defined by a circumferentially extending wall 36 which is spaced from an inner housing 38, with the inner housing preferably being cylindrical in form and provided with opposed ends for abuttingly receiving spaced spring biasing means 40 and 42. The biasing means are illustrated as being in the form of a coiled compressed spring which is suitably interposed between walls 33 and 35 of the closure means 32 and 34, and the opposed ends of the inner chamber. The inner chamber further includes a circumferentially extending inside peripheral wall surface 44 having marginal opposed ends, one of which threadedly engages a metallic plug at 46 so that a lock nut 48 can rigidly affix link member 22 thereto. Insulator 50 is fixed to the inside wall of the metallic plug 46.

Radially spaced fuses, the ends of which are seen at 52 and 53, are radially spaced from one another, from the inner cylinder, and from the axially aligned link members 22 and 26. Pin 54 secures a combination stop member and spring retainer 55 to the link member 26. Insulator 56 slidably receives shaft 26 therethrough while metallic closure means 58 threadedly engages a marginal inside peripheral wall surface of the metal inner housing 38. Insulator 60 abuttingly engages metal closure member 58 and receives a marginal free end of each of the before mentioned fuses therethrough.

Metal contact 62, preferably circular in cross-sectional configuration, includes a hub portion 63 and is slidably received in a reciprocating manner upon link member 26. Axial enlargement 64 is suitably affixed to the link member by pin 65. Conducting face 66 can be simultaneously brought into electrical contact with end 67 of each fuse.

Fixed enlargement 68 is spaced from enlargement 64 in rigidly attached relationship to the interior marginal end portion of the link member, while biasing means, in the form of a coil spring 70, is interposed between electrical contact 62 and the enlargement 68, so that contact 62 can be moved toward enlargement 68 until spring 70 is fully collapsed. Hence the contact is captured in biased relationship between members 65 and 68.

In the second embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 4, 6, and 7, where like or similar numerals relate to like or similar elements found in the foregoing Figures, the insulator 60 and hub 74 is of unitary construction. Pin 154 afiixes the illustrated spring retainer to the link member 26. Hub 76 of contact 62 has a counterbore 78 arranged in close tolerance and slidable relationship respective to the link member 26. Insulator 50 is received against the illustrated shoulder of the inner conductive cylinder 138. Spring retainer 82 receives an end portion of the before mentioned spring 42 therein so that the inner cylinder is biased toward an intermediate position respective to the central longitudinal axis of the outer cylindrical chamber.

The fuses 52 and 53 of the foregoing figures preferably are made in accordance with the teachings of FIG. 8, wherein threaded end 84 is affixed to a nonconductive spacer housing 87, with an electrical contact 86 being electrically connected by meltable conductor 88 to the threaded end.

In operation, the opposed links are connected in series relationship within a current carrying conductor 16 or 18, so that the tension of the conductor urges the link members apart, thereby causing face 66 of the contact 62 to be brought into electrical contact with the free end portion of each fuse 52. Current can now travel from 22 into the end member 46, along the inner cylinder 38, through the opposed end member 58, into each of the fuses 52, into the contact 62, and to the opposed link member 26. Upon receiving an overload of current, fuse 52 will melt at its appropriate location, thereby rendering the assembly nonconductive. It will be noted that hub member 63 or 76 will contact face 61 of the insulator 60 upon destruction of a free end portion of the fuse.

Should the wire conductor to which the apparatus is connected break, the member 20 connected to the nearest adjacent pole from which current is being received will be moved into the nonconductive configuration because of the action of the biasing means 40 and 42, which jointly cooperate together to move the inner housing from the current conducting configuration of FIG. 3 into the nonconductive or the neutral disconnected configuration of FIG. 4. The springs preferably are of a value to carry the load of a broken conductor 18' and at the same time bias the inner housing into the nonconductive configuration of FIG. 3. Yet the springs must jointly cooperate together to permit the normal line tension in an unbroken operative line to compress the springs adequately so that the assembly assumes the conducting configuration seen illustrated in FIG. 4.

When current flow is from 16 to 16, as in FIG. 1, it is necessary to empty only one fuse breaker device at each pole, so long as the apparatus of the invention is located on the side of the pole which is away from the transmission station.

l. A hi-line voltage breaker and fuse assembly for being series connected in a high voltageconduit, comprising:

an elongated outer housing having opposed ends axially aligned respective to eachother; first and second current carrying link members, an elongated inner housing reciprocatingly received within said outer housing and having opposed end portions axially aligned respective to each other, said outer and inner housings and said first and second link members being axially aligned with respect to one another; said first link member having opposed end portions with a fixed end thereof affixed to said inner housing and an opposed free end thereof is adapted to be affixed to a current carrying conductor; a marginal length of said first link member being slidably received in a reciprocating manner within one end of said outer housing, a marginal length of said second link member being slidably received in a reciprocating manner within said outer housing;

biasing means by which opposed ends of said outer housing are urged away from opposed ends of said inner housing so that said inner housing is urged towards a position intermediate said opposed ends of said outer housing;

means by which a marginal end of said second link member is reciprocatingly received within said inner housing, a fuse means connected to said inner housing and extending into the interior thereof, electrical contact means on said second link member movable into engagement with said fuse means when said first and second link members are moved away from one another; means forming a current flow path through said first link member to said fuse means; means forming a current flow path through said second link member to said electrical contact means; so that:

connection of the free ends of said first and second link members in series relationship into a current carrying hi-voltage conduit of a hi-line under tension will move said electrical contact into engagement with said fuse and thereby provide a voltage breaker and fuse which will assume a current carrying configuration, and upon parting of the hi-line or upon excessive current flow through said fuse, said assembly will,assurne a non-conductive configuration.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said inner and outer housings are insulated from one another and said inner housing forms a current flow path from said first link member to said fuse means.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said inner housing is provided with a closure means spaced from and concentrically arranged respective to said second link mean; said fuse means being at least one fuse normally disposed respective to and removably received by said closure means, said fuse 'means extending into said inner chamber in parallel relationship respective to said second link member; i

said electrical contact means on said second link member being an enlargement which is axially aligned with said closure member and radially spaced therefrom in aligned relationship respective to said fuse means.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said outer and inner housings are circular in cross-section configuration, with the outside diameter and length of said inner housing being less than the inside diameter and length of said outer housing;

and, said biasing means being a compression spring interposed between the end walls of said outer and inner housings. 5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said inner and outer housings are insulated from one another and said inner housing forms a current flow path from said first link member to said fuse means.

said inner housing is provided with a closure means spaced from and concentrically arranged respective to said second link means; said fuse means being at least one fuse normally disposed respective to and removably received by said closure means, said fuse means extending into said inner chamber in parallel relationship respective to said second link member; I

said electrical contact means on said second link member being an enlargement which is axially aligned with said closure member and radially spaced therefrom in aligned relationship respective to said fuse means.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said outer and inner housings are circular in cross-section configuration, with the outside diameter and length of said inner housing being less than the inside dia eter and length of said outer housing;

and said biasing means being a compression spring interposed between the end walls of said outer and inner housings;

said inner and outer housings are insulated from one another and said inner housing forms a current flow path from said first link member to said fuse means. 7. A safety switch and fuse assembly comprising: an outer housing, an inner housing located within and spaced from said outer housing, opposed link members connected to said inner housing and having a free marginal end portion slidably extending through said outer housing, means by which said free end portion of said link members can be series connected into an electrical current carrying line;

an electrical contact, a fuse means, said electrical contact being located within and spaced from said inner housing; means by which one of said link members moves said contact into engagement with said fuse means when an opposed force is applied to said link members;

means forming a current flow path from said one of said link members to said contact; means forming a current flow path from another of said link members to said fuse means; means by which said fuse and contact are forced out of engagement with one another when the link members are subjected to a force of a value less than said opposed force.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said inner and outer housings are insulated from one another and said inner housing forms a current flow path from one said link member to said fuse means.

9. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said inner housing is provided with a closure means spaced from and concentrically arranged respective to one of said link means; said fuse means being at least one fuse normally disposed respective to and removably received by said inner housing; said fuse means extending into said inner housing in parallel relationship respective to one of said link member;

7 said electrical contact means on one said link member being an enlargement which is axially aligned with said inner housing and radially spaced therefrom in aligned relationship respective to said fuse means.

10. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said outer and inner housings are circular in cross-section configuration, with the outside diameter and length of said inner housing being less than the inside diameter and length of said outer housing;

and, said means by which said link member moves said contact member being a compression spring interposed between the ends of said outer and inner housings.

11. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said inner and outer housings are insulated from one another and said to said fuse means. 

1. A hi-line voltage breaker and fuse assembly for being series connected in a high voltage conduit, comprising: an elongated outer housing having opposed ends axially aligned respective to each other; first and second current carrying link members, an elongated inner housing reciprocatingly received within said outer housing and having opposed end portions axially aligned respective to each other, said outer and inner housings and said first and second link members being axially aligned with respect to one another; said first link member having opposed end portions with a fixed end thereof affixed to said inner housing and an opposed free end thereof is adapted to be affixed to a current carrying conductor; a marginal length of said first link member being slidably received in a reciprocating manner within one end of said outer housing, a marginal length of said second link member being slidably received in a reciprocating manner within said outer housing; biasing means by which opposed ends of said outer housing are urged away from opposed ends of said inner housing so that said inner housing is urged towards a position intermediate said opposed ends of said outer housing; means by which a marginal end of said second link member is reciprocatingly received within said inner housing, a fuse means connected to said inner housing and extending into the interior thereof, electrical contact means on said second link member movable into engagement with said fuse means when said first and second link members are moved away from one another; means forming a current flow path through said first link member to said fuse means; means forming a current flow path through said second link member to said electrical contact means; so that: connection of the free ends of said first and second link members in series relationship into a current carrying hivoltage conduit of a hi-line under tension will move said electrical contact into engagement with said fuse and thereby provide a voltage breaker and fuse which will assume a current carrying configuration, and upon parting oF the hi-line or upon excessive current flow through said fuse, said assembly will assume a non-conductive configuration.
 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said inner and outer housings are insulated from one another and said inner housing forms a current flow path from said first link member to said fuse means.
 3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said inner housing is provided with a closure means spaced from and concentrically arranged respective to said second link mean; said fuse means being at least one fuse normally disposed respective to and removably received by said closure means, said fuse means extending into said inner chamber in parallel relationship respective to said second link member; said electrical contact means on said second link member being an enlargement which is axially aligned with said closure member and radially spaced therefrom in aligned relationship respective to said fuse means.
 4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said outer and inner housings are circular in cross-section configuration, with the outside diameter and length of said inner housing being less than the inside diameter and length of said outer housing; and, said biasing means being a compression spring interposed between the end walls of said outer and inner housings.
 5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said inner and outer housings are insulated from one another and said inner housing forms a current flow path from said first link member to said fuse means. said inner housing is provided with a closure means spaced from and concentrically arranged respective to said second link means; said fuse means being at least one fuse normally disposed respective to and removably received by said closure means, said fuse means extending into said inner chamber in parallel relationship respective to said second link member; said electrical contact means on said second link member being an enlargement which is axially aligned with said closure member and radially spaced therefrom in aligned relationship respective to said fuse means.
 6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said outer and inner housings are circular in cross-section configuration, with the outside diameter and length of said inner housing being less than the inside diameter and length of said outer housing; and said biasing means being a compression spring interposed between the end walls of said outer and inner housings; said inner and outer housings are insulated from one another and said inner housing forms a current flow path from said first link member to said fuse means.
 7. A safety switch and fuse assembly comprising: an outer housing, an inner housing located within and spaced from said outer housing, opposed link members connected to said inner housing and having a free marginal end portion slidably extending through said outer housing, means by which said free end portion of said link members can be series connected into an electrical current carrying line; an electrical contact, a fuse means, said electrical contact being located within and spaced from said inner housing; means by which one of said link members moves said contact into engagement with said fuse means when an opposed force is applied to said link members; means forming a current flow path from said one of said link members to said contact; means forming a current flow path from another of said link members to said fuse means; means by which said fuse and contact are forced out of engagement with one another when the link members are subjected to a force of a value less than said opposed force.
 8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said inner and outer housings are insulated from one another and said inner housing forms a current flow path from one said link member to said fuse means.
 9. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said inner housing is provided with a closure means spaced from and concentrically arranged respective to one of said link means; said fuse means being at least one fuse normally disposeD respective to and removably received by said inner housing; said fuse means extending into said inner housing in parallel relationship respective to one of said link member; said electrical contact means on one said link member being an enlargement which is axially aligned with said inner housing and radially spaced therefrom in aligned relationship respective to said fuse means.
 10. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said outer and inner housings are circular in cross-section configuration, with the outside diameter and length of said inner housing being less than the inside diameter and length of said outer housing; and, said means by which said link member moves said contact member being a compression spring interposed between the ends of said outer and inner housings.
 11. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said inner and outer housings are insulated from one another and said inner housing forms a current flow path from one of said link members to said fuse means; said inner housing being provided with a closure means spaced from and concentrically arranged respective to each said link means; said fuse means being at least one fuse normally disposed respective to and removably received by said closure means, said fuse means extending into said inner housing in parallel relationship respective to one of said link members; said contact means being an enlargement which is axially aligned with said closure member and radially spaced therefrom in aligned relationship respective to said fuse means. 